What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is malware that encrypts a company's files and demands a ransom to restore them, often with a threat to publish the stolen data as well. Attacks usually begin with a phishing email or a stolen password.
There are three layers of defence: an employee who spots the phishing email, two-factor authentication that makes a stolen password useless, and tested backups kept isolated from the network.
How to spot it
- Files with an unfamiliar extension
- A text file demanding payment
What to do
- Disconnect the computer from the network immediately
- Don't switch it off or delete anything; call IT
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